aluminum tow rails

[Geoff K]

I saw NYsail's post on new toe rails. I'm interested in changing out my stock teak toerails for aluminum rails. Any experience with that?

I saw an article in a magazine several years ago about making the change on a P 35, I think, (Sorry. That's as specific as i can get.) It seemed like a doable thing.

So far I've found several sources, most about $1,000 per side. Getting a professional to redo the teak is (at the high end) $3.500. Doing it ourself is enough to make us think of selling the boat.

An advantage of changing is the present screws can be changed to through bolts. However, if the deck hasn't flipped its lid in 33 years perhaps that's more theoretical than real? The biggest advantage (and our reasoning) is ease of maintenance and flexible attachment points of "stuff."

Any thoughts?

Geoff Kloster
S/V AnaMeg
Pearson 323 Hull 163

 

[NYSail]

Well... I am a wood guy and think it makes the boat look great so my thoughts are jaded. However just a few points.

The teak to make the rails cost about $400, the cost to have it milled was $450, then my wife and I put them back on and my wife did the varnish work... think she put about 6 coats on. When buying the teak I could not just buy the exact amount so I had a ton of excess that I was able to sell. So maybe I'm into the rails for $1,000 total and a little work. Took us about an hour tops to remove the toe rails. Putting them on was a bit tougher due to the bending of the wood and took about 4 hours.

I am not sure about the 323 but the 36-2 and similar models have the rub rail through bolted to the hull/deck joint. The screws only hold the rub rails on.

I have also heard of people putting aluminum rails on.... people like the rails that have attachment points to add blocks etc... and it works well for them.

Good Luck and post some photos

 

[NYSail]

Oh and just to let you know... the wood shop has the rails still available for $600. that would be for 8 8+ (forgot the exact... maybe 8'6") foot teak toe rails... varnish and attach and your in Schaffer City!

Good Luck

 

[Geoff K]

I, too, like wood and woodworking is a hobby. However, I dislike, perhaps despise is a better term, finishing; even more so when it's crawling around on hands and knees and brushing in hard to get at places. My wife likes finishing to a point, but has made it very clear she does not wish to redo the outside wood on our boat. If parts can be removed and taken home for the winter they will get a fresh coat every year, otherwise they will be grey.

The 323 has screws for the toenail/deck/hull joint except where the jib lead is on the toe rail.

I wonder how a toe rail would look with external screws? East to remove and refinish in the basement? I suppose the through bolts for the deck joint would have to hold on a base piece of 1/2" wood into which the "nice" toe rail could be fastened? Would have to change some chocks and other fixtures that are attached to the toe rail.

Geoff

 

[NYSail]

I also am not a refinisher... wife does all that and sometimes it is in the shop during the winter months. I voted for natural with no finish but she won. Anyway it sounds like our boats have different ways they attached the hull/deck. On the P36-2 the toe rails do have screws but are from underneath. Also the original toe rails had a grove down the underside to compensate for the bolt heads that attached the rub rail to the hull/deck.

 

[Geoff K]

I guess I need to look more closely at my boat. The only rub rail is the teak toenail that laps over the edge... I think. I'll be up there later this week; will look further.

 

[NYSail]

On the 36-2 and other similar vintages, there is a heavy plastic rub rail... L shaped that is through-bolted to deck/hull. The toe rail sits ontop of the rub rail and hides the bolt heads. I'll snap a picture today and post

 

[Geoff K]

A pic would help. How do I see them? I see an "insert image" button. If I want to upload a photo is that where to go? The button asks for a url. Do I have to find a place to put the photo outside of my computer? If so, I assume I can use dropbox? I've used dropbox for photos before so if that's all there is to it I've got it.

I'll be at our boat Wednesday and will look at my toerail and fastening arrangement better.

Geoff

 

[NYSail]

So here is a few pictures